Feeler mechanism for looms



M. L. STONE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. 1920 Patented; Dec. 5,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M. L. STONE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.30,1920.

1337,82 5, Patented Dec. 5,1922:

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- entree TA MELVIN L'S'IONE, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPORA- rtnszt rice.

. TION, or HOPEDALE, MAssAoHUsE'r'rs, a CORPORATION or MAINE.

FEELER mnonamsrrron LOOMS.

Application filed January 30, 1920. Serial No. 355,064.

To all 'wbomit may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIN L. S'roriE, a]

' citizen of the United States, anda resident of Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in F eeler Mechanisms for of any suitable materialwhioh Wlll flex or bend under the direct impact of the feeler Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanismsbfor looms whereby the filling is replenished or the operative condition of the loom changed whenthe filling in the active shuttle reaches a condition of substantial exhaustion.

Various forms of feeler mechanisms have heretofore been devised, and some of them 7 have worked with fairly satisfactory reing has been effected. In this type of feeler mechanism the replenishment of filling is dependent upon the accuracy of measurement of the filling on the bobbin when the call for change is made. In another form of prior feeler mechanisms it has been .sug-

gested toslot-the bobbin and uncover the slot for the entrance of the feeler, when, on

. a detecting beat, the filling has become substantially exhausted. In still'another form of feeler mechanism heretofore suggested, there was employed a penetrating and an impinging feele r which became efiective for replenishing filling when the filling in the active shuttle had reached a predetermined degree of exhaustion. The present feeler mechanism differs from'all of these, and has i for its object to provide a feeler mechanism -'of simple construction which shall be efi'ective and reliable in operation.

An important feature of the present 111 vention consists in a bobbin or filling carrier which has a yielding surface against which a feeler may impinge when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.- This general feature-of the invention may be carried into effect in various ways and, in the present instance, the bobbin is provided with a ielding band or sleeve which is preferab y spaced from the sur- I face of the-bobbin, and which, when engaged by the feeler, may be flexed inwardly to thereby change the operative, condition of the feeler and its associated parts to effect replenishment of filling.

The flexible band or sleeve may be formed and, in the present instance, the band or sleeve is formed of rubber which appears to be well suited for this purpose.

The above and other important features and novel combinations of parts will be hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one good, practical form of the invention.

Flg. l is a perspective view of the feeler .side of a loom having the present invention associated therewith;

Fig.2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the feeler and its associated parts, some of the elements being broken away to disclose constructions beyond;

, Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fi 2;

ig. 4 is a longitudinal section substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the feeler mechanism in connection with the yielding band or sleeve Of'Figs. 6, 7 and 8; 5

Fig.6 is a plan view showing the action of the parts of the feeler mechanism when, on a detecting beat, filling is substantially exhausted;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing a modified form of the yielding band or sleeve;

Fig. 7 "s a view similar to that of Fig. '6 showing'the action of the parts when, on a detecting beat, the flexible band or sleeve is bent or flexed inwardly; and

Fig. 8 is a" section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Mounted on the loom frame 1 is the transverse or rock shaft 2 from which rises the arm 3 connected at its upper end to the latch l, the rear end portion 5 of which is adapted to be engaged by the operating member 7 when replenishment of filling is to be effected.

Pivotally mounted on the loom frame at 8 is the transmitter 9 having the end portion 10 which is cammed as usual and over which passes the oprating arm 11 pivotally mounted at 12 on the loom frame, the construction being such that when the operating arm 11 is moved frontwardly on its pivotal mount- 'ing 12, it will actuate the transmitter 9 to place the end 5 of the latch 4 in the path of the operating member 7 to thereby effect replenishment of filling. These parts may be the same as now generally employed on the well-known Draper feeler loom, or they may be varied to respond to conditions of use.

The present invention involves a feeler which is mounted for movement towards and from the front of the loom and which will engage the flexible sleeve or band on the bobbin when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, and such feeler may take various forms. In the present instance a feeler stand 13 is adjustably mounted on the loom frame or an extension from the shipper stand, as usual in this form of looms, and has a slot 14 whereby the usual securing bolt may be manipulated to permit adjustment of the stand. The stand 13 has the usual cover 15 and a feeler carrier 16 is mounted for reciprocating movement in the feeler stand. In the present instance the feeler carrier 16 passes through the feeler stand from front to rear, as indicated in Fig. 4, and is normally under the impulse of a spring 17 acting to hold the feeler carrier 16 in its rearward position with the shoulder 18 against the rear portion 19 of the feeler stand. The feeler stand or the cover 15 thereof has the guide 20, Fig. 2, through which extends the operating arm 11.

The feeler carrier 16 extends rearwardly and its rear end portion 21, Fig. 4, carries the feeler which is normally extended beyond the rear end portion 'of the feeler carrier by means of a spring. Projecting from the feeler carrier 16 are the lugs 2.2 through which passes the bolt or stud 23. Mounted for rocking movementon the stud or bolt 23 is the arm 24, the front end portion 25 of which is normally in depressed position,

' as indicated in Fig. 2, so that should the arm 24 be moved frontwardly when in such position, it will move the operating lever 11 and cause replenishment of filling.- Extendmg downwardly from the arm 24 and preferably formed as part of such arm, is the "lug 26, the construction being such that the i weight of the arm 24 will normally maintain the end 25 of the arm 24 depressed and the lug 26 in substantially vertical position.

The rear end portion of the feeler carrier is provided Withthe guide-ways 27 in which is mounted for reciprocating movement the feeler. In the present instance the feeler comprises the side arms 28 which reciprocate in the guides 27 and are held from lifting movement therefrom by the plates 28*. The rear end portion 29 of the feeler which con= nects the side portions 28 extends beyond the rear end of the feeler ca'i riers. Rising acts to hold the feeler projected rearwardly of the end' of the feeler carrier. Frontwardly of the lug 30 the side portions 28 of the feeler are preferably connected by a cross piece 33 which, when the feeler is moved frontwardly in opposition to the spring 32, acts upon the downwardly extending lug 26 and turns the arm 24 on its pivotal support, thereby carrying the end 25 of the arm 24 in an upper position so that it will not contact with the operating arm 11 on frontward movement of the feeler carrier.

The bobbin or filling carrier 34 has secured thereto, preferably near its base or head portion, a flexible sleeve or band 35, Fig. 5. The sleeve or band 35 may be formed of any suitable yielding material, preferably rubber or the like, and has its end portions seated upon and secured to collars 36, the construction being such that the body portion of the sleeve or band 35 is connected to the bobbin with a space between the surface of the' bobbin and the sleeve or band. The sleeve or band may be'connected to the collars 36 by a wire 37, which secures the end portions of the sleeve or band to the collars. The construction is such that when the flexible sleeve or band 35 is overlaid with filling on a detecting beat. the

feeler will be struck by the mass of yarn and be moved frontwardly on the feeler carrier, thereby lifting the arm 24 so that it will not strike the operating lever 11 on the frontward movement of the feeler carrier. \Vhen, however, the flexible band or sleeve becomes exposed to engagement by the feeler, a condition which occurs when the filling is substantially exhausted, the feeler member a carrier is intended to preferably engage one of the collars 36 and to. this end the rear end portion 21 of the feeler carrier is broadened out or extended in a direction longitudinally of the bobbin, as indicated in Fig. 5.

It may sometimes be desirable to reinforce the "elastic quality of the yielding sleeve or band to insure that it be returned to its normal cylindrical condition after impact and flexure by the feeler member, I;

and one suitable means to thisend is shown the bobbin 34, also carry between the 'sur-.

face of the bobbin and the flexible sleeve or band 35, the restoring fingers 38. One of the collars 36 is preferably provided with a series of slots 39 through each of which extends a restoring finger38. Each of these fingers 38 may extend a substantial distance longitudinally of the flexible band or sleeve 35, and underlie an extended portion thereof. In order to maintain them from displacement when the bobbin does not contain filling, the restoring fingers 38 have bent portions 40 which are larger than the opening in the collar sothat the restoring fingers 38 will be retained in their operative position, When filling is wound upon the filling carrier, it is desirable that these fingers act to restore the flexible sleeve or band to its normal condition, and to this end the restoring fingers 38 have projecting portions 41 which extend beyond the collar 36 and over which. the filling is Wound, as indicated in Fig. 6. The fingers 38 will also serve to reinforce the yielding band or sleeve while filling remains over the portions 41 of these fingers.

When the filling is being wound upon the filling carrier in the, spinning frame, or

other winding machine, the winding of the filling is preferably commenced near the base portion of the bobbin and preferably between the base and one of the collars 36 as at 42, Fig. 6, and is then continued over the flexible collar or band and upwardly, as usual, over the surface of the bobbin. In order that the filling or initial windings thereof, as at 42, may not be obstructed as they-are withdrawn during the weaving process, the collars 36 are preferably pro= vided with the rounded surfaces-4-3J It .is new to provide a bobbin or filling carrier with the yielding or flexible sleeve or band which constitutes the zoneof engagement between the bobbin and feeler membeer ina feeler loom when filling is substancombination of a feeler mounted for move ment towards and from th'e'front of the loom, a feeler bobbin having an elastic contact surface postioned to receive an inwardly deflecting pressure from the feeler,

- said elastic surface adapted'to be] engaged wards the axis of the bobbin, and to be re- ;l ieved by a working supply of filling from a" bythe feeler on a detecting beat when not encircled by a working supply of filling and to be stretched inwardly by the feeler toppressure of the feeler suflicientto stretch the elastic surface, and'means for efl'ecting reaameas stretching said surface approaches the bobbin axis to anabnormal extent.

combination of a feeler mounted for movement towards and from the front of the loom, a feeler .bobbin having an elastic band surrounding the bobbin .and positioned to receive an inwardly deflecting pressure from the feeler, said band adapted to be engaged by the feeler on a detecting beat when not encircled by a working supply of filling and to be stretched inwardly by the feeler towards the axis of the bobbin, and to be relieved by a working supply of filling from a feeler pressure sufiicient to stretch the band, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler by stretching said band approaches the bobbin axis to an abnormal extent.

- 3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the 6 combination of a feeler, a feeler bobbin hava ing a flexible, non-metallic elastic contact surface surrounding the bobbin and positioned to' receive an. inwardly deflecting pressure from the feeler, said surface adapted to be embraced by filling, and to be temporarily indented by the feeler to an abnormal extent when on a detecting beat said surface is not embraced by a working supply of filling, and means for efi'ecting replenishment of filling when the feeler by the band is not embraced by a working supply of filling, and means for effecting replenishmentoffilling'when the feeler by indenting the band approaches the bobbin axis to an abnormal extent. v

5, In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler supported. to-enter the shuttle on each detecting beat, a bobbin carried by the shuttle and having a feeler engaging band of elastic material mounted on the bobbin with a space between the feeler engaging portion of the band and the sur- 1 20 face of the bobbin that the elastic material of the band may bend inwardly of the bobbin under the. pressure .of the feeler on a detecting beat when the filling is substantially exhausted, and .means controlled jthe "feeler for effecting replenishment of" lling, 6. In a feeler mechanism for loo s, the comb-inationof a feeler'mounted to enter the shuttle on each detecting beat, a bobbinc'arried by the shuttle, a feeler engaging band of elastic material mounted on the bobbin with a space between the feeler engaging portion of the band and the surface of the bobbin and overlaid by the filling when a working supply is present but exposed to the bending action of the feeler when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, and means controlled by the feeler for replenishing the filling.

7 In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler supported to enter the shuttle on each detecting beat, a bobbin carried by the shuttle and having a feeler engaging band of yieldingmaterial mounted on the bobbin with a space between the feeler engaging portion of the band and the surface of the bobbin that the yielding band may bend inwardly of the bobbin under the pressure of the feeler on a detecting beat whenthe filling is substantially exhausted, band restoring means carried by the bobbin and acting to restore the band to normal condition after the pressure of the feeler is removed. and means controlled by the feeler for effecting replenishment of filling.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms. the combination of a feelcr carrier mounted for movement towards and from the front of the loom, a feeler movably mounted upon the carrier, means for yieldingly holding the feeler in position to extend rearwardly beyond the carrier, a feeler bobbin having an elastic contact surface upon which filling is wound, the surface being supported to permit a portion of the elastic surface to be forced inwardly by the feeler to an abnormal,

fecting replenishment of filling When the feeler forces the flexible surface inwardly an abnormal extent.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement towards and from the front of the loom, a bobbin provided with a flexible member having its ends secured to the bobbin, said member adapted to have a portion thereof between its ends deflected relative to its ends towards the axis of the bobbin by engagement with the feeler, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when upon a detecting beat the feeler, produces a pre determined deflection in the member.

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement towards and from the front of the loom, a bobbin, a flexible band mounted on the bobbin to be engaged by the feeler and adapted to have a pocket forced therein by the feeler towards the axis of the bobbin when filling is substantially exhausted, and meansfor effecting replenishment of filling upon the feeler producing a pocket of sutficient depth to permit the feeler to approach within a predetermined distance of the axis of the bobbin.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MELVIN I1. STONE. 

